Pakistan reels with a sharp hike in flour prices amidst growing inflation, with the cost of a 20-kilogram flour bag surging by up to Rs. 217 in just one week.

A recent report from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reveals significant price hikes in multiple cities, with Karachi and Islamabad residents bearing the brunt of the highest prices in the country.

Sialkot saw the steepest increase, with a 20-kg flour bag jumping by Rs. 217. Lahore, Gujranwala, Multan, and Bannu followed closely, each recording a Rs. 200 rise. Other cities weren’t spared: Bahawalpur’s 20-kg bag increased by Rs. 193.34, Rawalpindi by Rs. 187.67, Islamabad by Rs. 173.33, and Sargodha by Rs. 173. Sukkur reported a Rs. 160 hike, Quetta Rs. 130, Karachi and Sukkur Rs. 100, and Peshawar Rs. 50.

As a result, a 20-kg flour bag now costs Rs. 1,786.67 in Rawalpindi, Rs. 1,690 in Quetta, Rs. 1,680 in Hyderabad, and Rs. 1,667 in Sialkot. These figures highlight the uneven impact of the price surge, with urban centers like Karachi and Islamabad facing the highest costs, exacerbating financial strain for residents.